Tube frame



Dec. 18, 1928. r 1,696,162

E. F. HATHAWAY TUBE FRAME Filed Feb. 24, 1925 CIQ &

11/1 III/II 3 jwarzfir. 5e 7 J 5 Patented Dec. 1 8, 1928.

'UNITEEDNSTA TES PATENT OFFICE,

EDGAR F. HATHAWAY, or WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS, AssreNon To sHAwMurENGINEERING com ANY, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS.

TUBE FRAME,

A'pplication filed February 24, 1925. Serial No. 11,047.

This invention relates to tube frames, and 1s particularly concernedwith the problem of affording a strong, durable construction for thesupport of the yarn-spoolin the tube ploy, in connectionwith thespool-bearing bracket of tube frames, a pivotal latch formed with asharply out-turned projecting 'lug arranged to spring into engagementwith a recess on the spoolbearing arm which carries it in order to lockthe spool-journal in its bearing, but a latch of this kind notreadily-made e-xceptiout of soft metal, spring steel being altogethertoo hard to lend itself to such formation, and as a soft metal latchbecomes permanently sprungor by repeated flexing to allowit to move tolocking position and be released'therefrom, such an arrangement was notfound to be satisfactory from a praoticalstandpoint.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a construction andarrangement that will meet the practical requirements of the tube frameart and shall be both reliable in operation and ,durable in service;

To this end the invention comprises a. spool-bearing arm orbracketadapted to be secured to a tufttube frame and notched at itsouter end to-form a bearing recess bounded by opposite jaws, oneof whichis offset into the path of a pivotal latch capable of being swung intojournal-locking position, and being releasably but positivelyinterlocked with said jaw to prevent accidental opening of the bearing.Another feature of the invention resides in the construction andarrangement of the latch forming a heel portion which limits the openingmovement of the latch so that the upper edge portion of the latch isleft in position to guide the spooLjournal being inserted into itsbearing recess, thereby facilitating the insertion of the journal. Theseand other features of the invention will be described in detail in thefollowing specification and will be defined in the claims heretoannexed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is anassembled view of one end of the tube frame equipped withthe suspension and the spool-bearing bracket embodying the presentimprovements.

Figure 2 is an interior elevation of the spool-bcaring bracket and latchin journalclosing position. I

Figure 3 isa horizontal cross section through the upper end of the latchand spool-bearing arm.

Figure 4 is an inside elevation showing the latch in open position toreceive and guide the spool-journal intoits bearing 1e-' cess.

Figure 5 is a detail view, similar to Figure 3, showing a round corneredoffset latch locking jaw.

In the form illustrated in the drawings, the tube frame carrier-bar l,is shown of tubular construction to receive the U-shaped attachingmember 5, which is detachably secured inside the hollow end portion ofthe carrier-bar bysuitable fastening screws 5. This attaching member isfirmly secured by rivets to the spool-bearing bracket comprising anupright arm 3, preferably of sheet metal, whose outer or upperend isrecessed to form a journal-bearing for the journal of the usualyarn-spool 2, which bearing recess is bounded by two jaws 3 andB onopposite sides of the bearing recess. 7

To retainthe spool-journal positively in its bearing recess, whilepermitting its release when desired, I provide a pivotal latch 7preferably of'spring steel, which latch, as

shown, is fulcrumed on a pivot stud 7 car- 7 ried by the arm 3, thelatch being cut away or recessed at its upper end to form a hooklikeportion 7 arranged to overhang the journal of the yarn-spool when thelatch is in journal-locking position, as indicated in Figure 2.

As shown in Figures 1 and3, the nearer jaw 23, forming the nearer sideof the bearing recess, as the latch is moved to locking position, isoffset to intersect or project into the plane of movement of the latch7. The overhanging hook portion 7 of the latch extends downwardly enoughto overlap both jaws, as shown, so that when the latch is forcedinwardly the hook portion 7" rides over and springs beyond the offsetjaw 3, which is then located between the edges'of the hook-definingrecess in the latch 7, as shown in Figure 2. The nearer side of theoffset jaw 3 is preferably bevelled, as shown in Figure 3, to give acam-like action to spring the outer end of the latch inwardly so that itwill pass over the oflz'set jaw with the least resistance. \Vhen aspring metal latch is used this spring action can be repeatedindefinitely without permanently deforming the latch which thus affordsa positive but releasable locking means for preventing the accidentalescape of the yarnspool journal. l

The beveling of the jaw 3 can be accomplished in the same operation ofthe dies that produces the ofi'set of the jaw 3, and instead of a bevelthis jaw, as shown at 3", in Figure 5, may be rounded to accomplish thesame purpose.

At the lower outer corner opposite its fulcral pointthelatch 7 is formedwith a heel portion or corner 7, proportioned and arranged so that whenthe latch is in opened position this heel portion will come into contactwith the adjacent part of the carrier-bar 1, and as shown in Figure 4,when stopped or limited to this position of outward movement, the inneredge 7 of the latch forms an inclined guide aligning with the front edgeof the bearing recess to guide v the spool-journal directly in to thebearing recess. This guiding of the journal into the open bearing is ofconsiderable practical convenience to the operator as the oppositejournal of the spool usually goes into a closed bearing which must bekept in sight in order to properly insert the spool.

Any suitable means for suspending the r tube frame from thecarrier-chains, shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, may be employed inassociation with the spool-bearing bracket. In this case I have shown anupwardly extending chain-penetrating arm 4, secured against the outerface of the spool-bearing bracket and carrying a pivot suspension hook6, fulcrumed on the transverse pivot pin 6 and normally pressed outwardby means of a spiral spring, not here shown, which is seated in apunched out recess 3, formed in the spool bearing arm.

It will be understood that the yielding member or latch is substantiallyflat, that is, without any sharp or abrupt oitset and may therefore bemade of good spring steel, while the fixed member, that is the bearingJarm cured to a tube 'rame, a latch fulcrumed to swing transversely ofthe tube frame in close proximity to one face of said arm, said latchhaving its outer portion cut out to form a hook-like portion arranged tooverhang a spool-journal, the corres )onding portion of said armbeing-provic ed with an open bearing recess bounded by opposed jaws, thenearer jaw being offset to intersect the plane of movement of said latchand to interlockingly engage the hook-forming recess of the latch topositively retain the latch in journal overhanging position,substantially as described.

2. In a tube frame, the combination with a carrier-liar, of aspool-bearing arm secured thereto and having in its upper end portion anopen bearing recess for the reception and support ofa spool journal, akeeper mounted on said arm to be moved to and from journal-retainingposition, said keeper being sprung laterally by its inherent resiliencyinto positively locked engagement with one side of said bearing recessto prevent accidental displacement from such position, said keeper beingformed to engage an abutting portion of the tube frame to limit itsmovement to open position at a point where one edge of said keeper is inline withthe open bearing recess to guide the spool-journal into saidbearing, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have'subscribed the above specification.

EDGAR F. HATHAWAY.

